Floor leveling system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for leveling a floor is disclosed that has a rigid member sized to span at least three floor joists. The rigid member can have holes spaced according to spacing of the floor joists. A fastening device can be inserted into the holes of the rigid member and into holes in the floor joist and a threaded first end and a threaded second end of the fastening device can receive nuts and washers. Tightening the nuts on the first end of the fastening device, will secure the fastening device to the at least one floor joist and tightening a second nut that is threadably engaged with the second end of the fastening member can pull the at least one joist towards the rigid member. The fastening device can be a threaded rod that is bent at a ninety degree angle.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally related to systems and arrangement for leveling a floor and to systems and arrangements for leveling a floor built from joists.

BACKGROUND

Lumber that is utilized in the construction of buildings is often of poor quality. The lumber may have imperfections such as a bow, a cup, or a twist. This makes building level floors and plumb walls difficult. Further, lumber may be near perfect when “wet” and tied in a bundle or a bunk but once released from the bunk the imperfections in the board will often manifest at a later date, possibly after construction is complete. This leads to floors and walls that are bowed. Thus, boards may be straight when installed during fabrication of a wall, but heat, moisture and other forces such as loading forces may cause the boards to bow cup or twist, distorting them from their desired form and bowing a wall or floor. Such imperfect boards can cause an unsightly bow in a floor or a wall. In some cases a floor or a wall can have a bow that makes the floor or wall structurally weak, or unstable and dangerous and in other cases a floor or wall that becomes bowed can seriously detracting from the value of the house. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system and method of straitening or leveling bowed floors and walls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an orthogonal view of a floor joist leveler; and

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a floor joist leveler installed under a floor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following is a detailed description of novel embodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the subject matter. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit anticipated variations of the described embodiments, but on the contrary, the claims and detailed description are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present teachings as defined by the appended claims. The detailed descriptions below are designed to make such embodiments understandable to a person having ordinary skill in the art.

Generally, methods and arrangements for leveling a floor are provided herein. While specific embodiments will be described below with reference to particular configuration, those of skill in the art will realize that embodiments may advantageously be implemented with other configurations.

An apparatus for leveling a floor is disclosed that has a rigid member sized to span at least three floor joists but possibly numerous floor joists. The rigid member can have holes spaced according to spacing of the floor joists. A fastening device can be inserted into the holes of the rigid member and into holes in the floor joist and a threaded first end and a threaded second end of the fastening device can receive nuts and washers. Tightening the nuts on the first end of the fastening device, will secure the fastening device to the at least one floor joist and tightening a second nut that is threadably engaged with the second end of the fastening member can pull at least one joist towards the rigid member. The fastening device can be a threaded rod that is bent at a ninety degree angle.

Referring to FIG. 1 a floor leveling system 100 is illustrated. The floor leveling system can include rigid member 102, fastening members 104, and 120 and nuts 112, 106 and 118 and washers 110, 108 and 119. Rigid member 102 could be an angle iron, a flat plate that is bent, or an I beam. The rigid member 102 can be designed such that it can support a load of thousands of pounds while pulling a joist down to the same level of as adjacent juices. Thus, the rigid member 102 should be sufficiently rigid such that it can pull down a joist that bows higher than the adjacent joists without significant flexure, deformation or distortion. In one embodiment, the rigid member can be an angle iron that measures three inches by three inches that is three sixteenths of an inch thick.

Fastening members, such as fastening member 120 can be a threaded member that can be fastened to a floor joist 116 at a first end, via nut 118. In a specific embodiment, a hole (not shown) can be drilled through the fastening member 120 and a pin such as a dowel pin can be placed in the drilled hole to secure the fastening member 120 from “slipping” out of the joist 116 similar to the way nut 118 prevents the fastening member 120 from slipping out of the joist 116. A hole 122 can be drilled in the joist 116 and the fastening member 120 can be inserted into the hole 122 and nut 118 and washer 119 can secure the first end of the threaded member 120 to the joist 116. A second end of the fastening member 120 can be inserted into hole 114 and a nut 126 and a washer 124 can secure the second end of the fastening member 120 to the rigid member 102.

When nut 126 on the second end of the fastening member 120 is tightened, floor joist 116 can be pulled down towards the fastening member 104 into a position proximate to the rigid member 102 such that the bottom of the floor joist 116 is on, or close to the same plane as bottom of adjacent joists, thus taking a bow out of a sub floor that can lie above the joist 116. The rigid member can be sized such that it spans more than two or at least three floor joists but possibly numerous floor joists. It has been determined that spanning four floor joists provides a substantial span and substantial strength for leveling particular floor areas as desired. Spanning less that four joists with the rigid member 102 can provide less that desirable results.

Fastening member 104 can be a threaded rod that is bent to an angle close to ninety degrees. In one embodiment the fastening member 120 could be a threaded rod cut to length and bent. Alternately, a solid rod could be threaded on each end and bent to the desired angle.

Referring to FIG. 2, a rigid member 202 is illustrated wherein the rigid member 202 has been placed perpendicular to floor joists 204. As can be appreciated, some of the floor joists 204 are at different levels causing soft spots and possibly a bow in sub-floor 206. In an effort to “stiffen” and level sub-floor 206, a fastener such as fastener member 208 can be inserted into a hole in rigid member 202 and into a hole in floor joist 214, and washers and nuts 210 and 212 can be threaded onto each end of the fastening member 208. Nut 212 can be tightened such that the fastening member 208 becomes secured to the joist 214.

Then, the second nut 210 can be installed onto the threaded member 208 and can be can be tightened such that the fastening member 208 pulls the joist 214 downward towards the rigid member 202 such that the joist 214 can become flush with the rigid member 202. When the bottom edge of the joist 208 comes into contact with the rigid member 202 then the user can adjust the level of the next joist.

Depending on the bow of the joists 204, the rigid member may pull a joist up that is hanging lower than the surrounding joists. In another embodiment, the rigid member 202 and fasteners 208 can be utilized on a wall to plumb studs in a wall. In yet another embodiment the rigid member could be utilized on ceiling joists and on rafters to correct deformities in the ceiling roof or walls. The holes in the rigid member 202 can be spaced according to normal floor joist spacing typically 16 and 24 inch spacing such that the fastening members can be placed proximate to, and substantially parallel with the face of the joists 204.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description. 

1. An apparatus for leveling a floor comprising; a rigid member sized to span more than two floor joists, the rigid member having holes spaced according to a spacing of the more than two floor joist; a fastening device insertable into the rigid member and insertable into a hole in one joist of the more than two floor joist, the fastening device having a threaded first end and a threaded second end, wherein tightening a nut that is threadably engaged with the first end of the fastening device secures the fastening device to the one joist and tightening a second nut on the second end moves the one joist towards the rigid member.
 2. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the more than two floor joists comprises four floor joists.
 3. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the fastening device comprises a threaded rod.
 4. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the rigid member comprises an angle iron material that spans four floor joists.
 5. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the rigid member comprises I beam material.
 6. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the rigid member is a bent plate material.
 7. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the fastening member comprises threaded rod one half inch in diameter.
 8. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the holes in the rigid member are spaced approximately sixteen inches apart.
 9. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the holes in the rigid member are spaced approximately twenty four inches apart.
 10. A system for leveling a floor comprising: inserting an angled fastener into a floor joist; securing the angled fastener to the floor joist; inserting the angled fastener into a rigid member that spans a plurality of floor joists; and pulling the floor joist towards the rigid member.
 11. The system of claim 10 further comprising securing a plurality of angled fasteners to the plurality of floor joists.
 12. The system of claim 10 wherein pulling further comprises rotating a nut on the angled fastener.
 13. The system of claim 10 wherein securing comprises assembling a nut onto the angled fastener.
 14. The system of claim 10 further comprising drilling a hole into the floor joist such that the angled fastener can be inserted into the floor joist.
 15. A floor joist fastener comprising; a rod bent at an angle and threaded on a first end and having a fastening mechanism on a second end; a fastener to place on the second end to secure the rod to a floor joist, wherein the first end can be placed in a rigid member, wherein a nut can be placed on the first end and wherein rotating the nut on the rod moves the rod towards the rigid member.
 16. The floor joist fastener of claim 15 wherein the fastening mechanism is a hole to receive a pin.
 17. The floor joist fastener of claim 15 wherein the fastening mechanism is threads adapted to receive a nut.
 18. The floor joist fastener of claim 15 wherein the rigid member is an angle iron.
 19. The floor joist fastener of claim 15 wherein the rod comprises a threaded rod.
 20. The floor joist fastener of claim 15 wherein the rod comprises a three eights inch diameter rod. 